Washington, D.C. TV Anchor Leon Harris Taking Leave of Absence for ‘Health Issues’ After Concerning Thanksgiving Broadcast

Mar. 15, 2025

Leon Harris at a 2011 event.Photo:Kris Connor/Getty

Kris Connor/Getty

A news anchor for NBC News in Washington, D.C. is stepping away from the desk after a recent segment prompted concern from audiences.

NBC4 News issued a statement on-air and on itswebsiteon Monday, Dec. 2 saying that news anchor Leon Harris, 63, would be “stepping away” from the broadcast to “focus on health issues" after appearing “unwell.”

“We here at NBC4 — and you at home — care deeply about Leon and wish him well. We thank you for your concern,” the station announced.

The network did not detail what kind of health issues the journalist is facing or when he will return.

NBC4 News did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for more information on the incident.

This comes after Harris appeared to slur his words and stumbled while reading from a teleprompter during NBC4 News’ Thanksgiving broadcast. In onepost on X, a viewer noted that Harris seemed to struggle to read the script while broadcasting. Another wrote on X that the segment had been “hard to watch.”

This prompted several viewers to submit “phone and email” notes to the station in regard to Harris. NBC4 News’ meteorologist Ryan Miller appeared toacknowledge viewer concernson-air during the same broadcast, saying, “We want to assure you that our colleague Leon Harris is fine.”

Harris was previously absent from the broadcast in September in order to recover from a foot injury sustained at his home and stepped away in 2013 to seek treatment for necrotizing pancreatitis, which left him hospitalized in the intensive care unit, according to theWashington Post.

“I made a terrible mistake,” he said in 2022, per theWashington Post. “After drinking, I decided to get into my car and drive. This is the worst decision I could possibly have made.”

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NASA aviation expert Shawn Chittle also wrote onX, “Get better soon Leon Harris!”

source: people.com